Report finds a little fat for U of M to trim

ST. PAUL — The University of Minnesota will bring a bright, but not perfect, picture of its management structure to the Capitol next week.

An independent analysis of four departments unveiled Friday shows that the school's organization is generally sound, but some supervisors could take on more employees. A full study of the roughly 50 administrative departments is expected to be complete this summer.

The university says its own research shows that 9 percent of its spending covers administrative costs.

Legislators asked in January for an analysis of the school's administrative pay and structure after a Wall Street Journal article showed its administration had grown twice as fast as its student body.

President Eric Kaler says he's comfortable going to the Legislature next week for the university's $1.2 billion budget request.